Abstract: The reading of an identification card with stroke code comprises sweeping of a control area by a laser beam, detection by photo-detectors of light reflected by the card and from the edges thereof, amplification, selection by a chronometer of the useful signal, placing of the signal into a buffer memory, and treatment by a micro-processor and an ordinator for reconstitution of a complete message by means of two successive incomplete sweeps comprising at least one upper or lower security character.

Abstract: A reader for reading encoded data on cards, badges and the like, which cards and badges can be of differing thicknesses, having specially adapted drive roller pairs each comprising a drive roller of a first durometer and a pinch roller of a second durometer, arranged to efficiently capture the badge or card and apply a positive drive force to it. The drive roller is fixed in position and of a relatively high durometer, while the pinch roller is at contact with the drive roller in the absence of a transported card or badge, but is adapted to be displaced against a spring force to accommodate the thickness of the badge or card being read. The efficiency of capture is a function of the relative durometers of the two respective rollers of the drive roller/pinch roller pair, as well as the degree of spring force provided on the pinch roller.

Abstract: A coded label comprising a code pattern in which first and second segments respectively being substantially square and having reflection factors different from each other are arranged in at least four rows and two columns, and in which at least two of either of the first and second segments are arranged in each column and at least one is arranged in each of the uppermost and lowermost rows.

Abstract: Colored markings such as a series of colored rings applied to an ampoule are read by causing the ampoule to move beneath an illuminating system which projects white light at the colored markings. Light reflected or scattered from the colored markings is directed at an aperture member arranged in the field of view of a color sensitive photoelectric detector arrangement and the image of the colored markings moves in a first direction across this aperture member due to relative movement of the object. The aperture member has a series of spaced apart optical apertures which are sequentially moved in a second direction transverse to the first direction and in front of the photoelectric detector arrangement. The photoelectric detector arrangement produces signals corresponding to the transmission of the image of the colored markings through the optical apertures.

Abstract: An extended clear band strip is disclosed for attachment to a document to permit re-encoding of information on the extended clear band. The device incorporates an elongated rectangular backing member having a predetermined width and having a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive thereon; an elongated rectangular indicia receiving release paper member is secured in abutting contact with a release paper strip member. The strip member and the indicia receiving member, although constructed of release paper, incorporate surfaces that are receptive to encoding inks. The strip member may be removed to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive therebeneath and thus permit the attachment of the extended clear band along one of the longer edges of a document. The adhesively coated side of the backing member is formed of a contrasting color with respect to the indicia receiving member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating the information on documents involved in transactions such as accounting or banking transactions, for example, from the documents themselves and also for placing control of the processing of the transactions on this information instead of on the documents themselves. An image lift unit at a point of acceptance in a banking system disclosed herein generates an electronic image of each of the documents presented thereat and also tags the documents and the associated images with identification indicia to provide entry records which are processed at a processing center in the system to develop accounting source data and to perform accounting transactions with the accounting source data without using the documents themselves and, in turn, to produce data records which are recorded on an archival record along with the images for the associated documents.

Abstract: A credit card system includes a credit card containing a memory for storing coded information indicative of: an identification of the use for which the article is intended, an identification of units used to keep account of operations which are performed in connection with the credit card, and the number of units available to a holder of the credit card. The memory is structured so that the two identification data zones have bits wherein a change from one binary value to another is irreversible, to prevent tampering of the identification of the card. The card also includes circuits for controlling the memory and contacts for temporarily coupling the card to an imprinting and/or operating means that are respectively coupled to the card at the time it is purchased and when it is being used to purchase goods or services. When the card is purchased, the number of units is imprinted onto the card in the third zone, and the number of these units is decremented as the card is being used.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and providing a signal from detection indicia that is applied to a substrate such as a controlled document for the purpose of determining the character of the document, the substrate comprising individual substrate members or an elongate relatively continuous substrate member passing through the apparatus at high speed. Speeds of between 10 to 15 linear meters per second are the order of speeds which are contemplated by the invention.The detection indicia on the controlled document comprises an area or areas which are deliberately applied to the document in a manner which renders the detection indicia substantially more conductive than the substrate.

Abstract: An identification card, comprising several laminated layers, one of which is of material capable of being magnetized, has 350 spots on it, each of which is capable of having one portion of the spot magnetized north and the other portion magnetized south. The 350 spots are divided into groups of randomly selected spots. One group, for example, represents the serial number of the card and has the portions of its spots magnetized accordingly. Apparatus for reading, and for remagnetizing the card to change the information recorded thereon, is also provided. This apparatus includes a horseshoe core (for each spot) that bridges the two magnetized portions of the spot. A "Hall effect" device detects the direction of the flux in said horseshoe core to respond to the direction of the magnetism of the portions of the spot. The polarity of the portions comprising the spot may be reversed by energizing a coil on the horseshoe core.

Abstract: A metering device, such as a postage meter, can be updated by a code bearing means which is provided with a first discernible code and a second obscured code, for instance, magnetic code. A computer stores a third code in association with the first code, however, the third code is correlated with the second code. Upon obtaining the third code from the computer and providing the third code on the code bearing means, the code bearing means is inserted in the metering device for causing the metering device to be conditioned for updating responsive to said second code and said third code on said code bearing means being in predetermined correlation.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for issuing airline tickets without the intervention of any ticket agent. The system includes a plurality of electro-mechanical ticket terminals in communication with a central computer. Each of the terminals has a card reader, a modem, destination select buttons, and a printer. In operation, the card reader reads data from a magnetic strip on a ticket purchasers credit card and the modem transmits signals identifying this credit card to the central computer. Subsequently, the modem receives signals from the central computer indicating good or bad credit. The push buttons are provided on the terminal to enable the purchaser to manually select his destination; and the printer prints a ticket to the selected destination conditional on the credit check signals received from the modem.

Abstract: A high density bar code scanned to be read out provides a time varying analog electric signal which after being reshaped is decoded, i.e., converted into a binary bit representation based on distances measured between consecutive leading and consecutive trailing edges of the reshaped analog signal. Errors due to mismeasurements are minimized by using a decoding process based on comparison of each measuring distance to a first or to a second preset threshold level. The choice of the threshold to be used for decoding a given bit depends on the odd or even characteristic of the number of bits previously decoded on the same bit stream. In addition, at least one of the thresholds is dynamically readjusted throughout the process, based on the last measured distance.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the computer art in general, and in particular to an identification device of the key-board type which includes a rectifier for both supplying current to the device and for supplying a trigger signal to a pulse generator having several outputs. Upon receipt of the trigger signal, the pulse generator generates a predetermined sequence of pulses on its outputs which are connected to a combination circuit which has two outputs. The pulse generator is operative to generate a train of pulses, each pulse of the train being applied to a respective one of the outputs as a function of a code which identifies the device. The pulses appearing at these two outputs are inductively transferred to a detector which thus receives a pulse train containing a predetermined number of pulses, the polarity of each of the pulses being representative of a binary number constituting the identification code of the device.

Abstract: A uniformly distributed magnetic recording medium is carried on or in an initially fluidizable support. During or after magnetically writing information upon the medium, the support is changed to a fluidized state, sufficient to permit some physical translational movement of the medium in localized areas corresponding in pattern to characteristic magnetic non-uniformities caused in medium by the magnetic writing. The support is then set or otherwise converted to a state in which such movement is no longer possible. Thereafter, even if the medium is degaussed, the now set non-uniformities in physical distribution of the recording medium, will permit the information that had been magnetically written, to continue to be read e.g. by magnetic analysis of the medium.

Abstract: An opto-electronic apparatus for reading out preferably coded information contained on a data carrier with high reliability and free of disturbances even when the insertion speed of the information carrier into an associated opening of the reading apparatus depends only on the arbitrary actuation by the operating person, including retrograde motions or stoppage of the information carrier. The apparatus is especially adapted to the read-out of information coded in a card as a pattern of alternating transparent and opaque areas which are subjected to infrared radiation whose passage or non-passage is detected by suitable detectors. The process of reading out the information contained in the data carrier is timed or clocked by a clock cycle generated from a clock trackcontained in the data carrier itself.

Abstract: A device for reading an item of information defined by a plurality of different intervals between consecutive elements on a data carrier, and corresponding methods of recognizing an item of information defined by a plurality of different intervals between consecutive pulses of a first pulsed signal. The device includes first and second element detectors arranged for motion relative to the elements on the data carrier, which detectors generate responses to the elements. The element detectors are spaced from each other by a distance e such that the responses to each element generated by said second element detector have a time delay e corresponding to the physical distance e with respect to the responses generated by said first element detector. The device further includes means for comparing the response of said first and second element detectors to produce an output signal representing the item of information.

Abstract: A combination electrosensitive reader-printer able to perform both functions by sensing the condition of a recording medium in the read mode and by altering the condition of the recording medium in the printing mode. The change of mode is accomplished manually or automatically. The data to be read or written may be coded optically or digitally for interpretation by a processor. The recording medium is a metalized paper or similar material with an ink under or over lay. The resistivity, conductivity or capacitance change of the medium is sensed or altered by the reader-writer. Appropriate timing tracks and registration marks are normally placed to enable reading and writing by different devices. The styli for reading and writing normally are disposed in an array, straight or angled relative to the paper path. The styli have tips which are cylindrical, rectangular or oval in cross section. Control circuitry, including an analog to digital converter, control input to and output from the reader-printer.

Abstract: The invention provides an information-recording element in which information can be written and read optically. The element is constructed from a transparent substrate, a laser light-absorbing, dye-containing auxiliary layer provided thereon, as well as a laser light-reflecting recording layer present on the auxiliary layer. Upon recording information the element is exposed to pulsated laser light via the substrate, holes being formed in the recording layer. The auxiliary layer stimulates the formation of holes, a saving of laser light energy being obtained. In a favorable embodiment the auxiliary layer has a laser light absorption of from 20 to 80% and a maximum thickness of 2500 A. In a further favorable embodiment the auxiliary layer also comprises an endothermal material, for example, nitrocellulose having a nitrogen content of at least 11%.

Abstract: .Iadd.A system is disclosed for providing financial status data from a data processing system to a plurality of input units. Operation is based on identification verification, personal history records, and current activity of subjects. Subjects are verified using two classes of identification, one that is characteristic of a subject and another that is arbitrarily assigned. Arbitrary identification signals designate a memory location for a subject's status and characteristic identification. A comparison between recorded and inquiry identification confirms a subject's identity. The system includes apparatus for accepting and recording identifications for first-time subjects. Memory also registers personal history, for example, negative information on subjects which is provided as one form of status data. Records of a subject's recent activity are generated in the memory to indicate another form of status data.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing financial status data from a data processing system to a plurality of input units. Operation is based on identification verification, personal history records, and current activity of subjects. Subjects are verified using two classes of identification, one that is characteristic of a subject and another that is arbitrarily assigned. Arbitrary identification signals designate a memory location for a subject's status and characteristic identification. A comparison between recorded and inquiry identification confirms a subject's identity. The system includes apparatus for accepting and recording identifications for first-time subjects. Memory also registers personal history, for example, negative information on subjects which is provided as one form of status data. Records of a subject's recent activity are generated in the memory to indicate another form of status data.